Indicating device



Nov. 13, 1956 w. L. NICLAUS 2,770,209

INDICATING DEVICE Filed Febv 21, 1956 I; C C o C o c. o C o E o o C o o I; o 0 l2: 0 o G, o o E o o G: o o I; o o E: o o 1:, o o o 0 l2 0 o l: o o

INVENTOR. WILL/AM L. N/CLAUS BY Q T TORNE V United States Patent INDICATING DEVICE William L. Niclaus, East Paterson, N. 1., assignor to Wilpet Tool & Manufacturing Co., Kearny, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 21, 1956, Serial No. 566,965

6 Claims. (Cl. 116-136) This invention relates to indicating devices and more particularly to a device employed by a housewife in leaving orders with a milkman or other deliveryman.

An object of this invention is to supply a checklist of the most commonly purchased household commodities, together With means for readily identifying both the commodity and the quantity to be ordered.

Another object is to furnish space on an indicating device for the name of a merchant and his advertising.

A further object is to provide in such a device a means for changing, from time to time, the list of commodities as well as providing a pocket in which bills or other memos from the deliveryman may be left for the housewife.

Still a further object is to provide supporting means whereby such indicating device may be conveniently placed in a readily accessible and noticeable location for the deliveryrnan and for the day to day use by the housewife. Other objects Will appear from the description which follows.

Referring to the drawings in which the same or similar reference number refers to the same or similar part, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated as follows:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device without the legendbearing card insert.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1 with the location of the card insert shown.

Figure 4 is a front view showing the device with a printed legend on the front panel insert and with certain listed commodities indicated.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4.

Body member 1, which may be outlined in the shape of a milk bottle, may be formed of flexible material and joined by flexible strip 2' to ring 2. Ring 2 is of sufficient diameter to permit it to be slipped over the neck of a milk bottle as suggested in Figure 4. Body member 1 has a front card holding panel recess 3 which is formed by overhanging lips 4 along two sides and the bottom. Into this recess card may be inserted. In the rear surface of body member 1, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, pocket 5 is formed, having opening 6 into which folded paper, bills, or currency may be deposited.

A row of openings 7 extends longitudinally along each edge of body member 1. Extending laterally from each plug is inserted is shown in Figure 5. By suspending the device from the neck of a milk bottle it will be in a conspicuous location to insure that the milkman sees the order. In turn, if the milkman Wishes to leave an advertisement, a note, or a bill, he may insert it in pocket 5. The

same pocket may be employed by a housewife in which such edge are flexible fingers 9 so located that there is i one adjacent to each opening 7. Extending outward from the front face of each finger 9 is a plug 8 of such size that it may be removably fitted into adjacent opening. 7.

As shown in Figure 4, an indicia-bearing card 10 may be inserted in front panel recess 3 so that a commodity is identified in line with each opening 7.

Use is made of the device as follows:

When a housewife desires to notify her millcman that she wishes certain dairy products to be left at her doorstep, she inserts a plug 8 into opening 7 alongside the product she wishes to order. The appearance of the device so marked Will, from the front, be as shown in Figure 4. A cross section through an opening in which a she may leave the money required to pay a bill.

When not used to place orders as described, the device may be hung in the kitchen and used as a reminder to order, or as otherwise desired. Changes in commodities listed may readily be made by substitution of new cards 10.

I find a number of commercially available plastics suitable for making a device as herein described. Polyethylene and high impact styrene are among them. Rubber or other similar material may also be used. The embodiment illustrated may be molded, the one-piece construction having obvious advantages. Modification in construction may, of course, be made. I do not, therefore, limit myself to any particular material, nor to the specific embodiment of my invention as described herein, nor do I by such description, limit the scope of my invention.

What 1 claim is:

1. An indicating device comprising a flat body member, such body member being provided with a recessed panel in the one surface thereof; an indicia bearing card removably engaged in the recessed panel; a plurality of openings extending along one edge of the body member in registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending laterally from such edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug extending outward from one face of each strip adapted to be removably inserted in the adjacent opening.

2. An indicating device comprising a flat body member, such body member being provided with a pocket formed outward from one surface; a recessed panel in the other surface thereof; an indicia bearing card removably engaged in the recessed panel; a row of openings extending along one edge of the body member in registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending laterally from such edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug extending outward from one face of each such strip adapted to be removably inserted in the adjacent opening.

3. An indicating device comprising a flat body memher with a ring member flexibly connected thereto, such body member being provided with a pocket formed outward from one surface; a recessed panel in the other surface thereof; an indicia bearing card removably engaged in the recessed panel; a plurality of openings extending along one edge of the body member in registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending laterally from such edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug extending outward from one face of each such strip adapted to be removably inserted in the a jacent opening.

4. An indicating device comprising a fiat body member with a ring member flexibly connected thereto, such body member being provided with a pocket projecting from one surface; retaining lips on three sides of a recess in the other surface; an indicia bearing card supported in the recess by such retaining lips; a plurality of openings extending along each longitudinal edge of the body member in registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending lateral-1y from the edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug extending outward from one face of each such strip adapted to be removably inserted in the adjacent opening.

5. An indicating device comprising a flat rectangular body member, such body member being provided with a pocket let into one surface; an indicia bearing card removably attached to the other surface; a plurality of open- Patented Nov. 13, 1956 ings extending along each longitudinal edge of the body member in registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending from the edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug projecting from one fiace of each such strip adapted to be removably inserted in the adjacent opening.

6. An indicating device comprising a flat rectangular body member; a ring member flexibly connected to one end thereof; a pocket let into one surface of the body member; retaining lips on three sides of a recess in the other surface; an indicia bearing card supported in the recess by the retaining lips; a plurality of openings extending along each longitudinal edge of the body member in 4 a [registry with the indicia; a strip of flexible material extending from the edge of the body member, adjacent each opening; and a plug projecting from one face of each such strip adapted to be removably inserted in the adjacent opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 471,124 Kelley Mar. 22, 1892 949,379 Patriarche Feb. 15, 1910 2,148,806 Da Voll Feb. 28, 1930 

